Constant Reader discussion

Susan, all I know is her non-fiction. But if her fiction is anywhere as forced or awful as her "philosophy" (if we insist on calling it that), I'll definitely take a pass ... and, like you, I have.

John, why do you lack any desire to read her? I'm just curious if your reason is the same as mine.

I fear I'd find her proselytizing boring. John - I'm not real keen on political philosophy, nor same as fiction. I wouldn't be keen on reading Marx either.

Oh, well don't let your aversion to philosophy stop you. She's no philosopher! :)

I was going to put a disclaimer that her "outlook" would qualify a "philosophy" for purposes of this discussion.

As Bryson was winding down, I started The Imperfectionists as a dueling ebook. Not sure what I think of the first couple of stories - both rather sad, though I liked the writing.

Just finished The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag on audio (good setting and plotting, but a bit of a morbid ending), so back to Travels in Siberia - Frazier's style took some getting used to, but now I quite enjoy it.

Bill Barich intended his Long Way Home as a "sequel" to Travels with Charley: In Search of America, though I'd call it Blue Highways: A Journey into America-lite myself (note: if you're a Sarah Palin fan, skip it!).

Oh, I was just messing around, John. Actually a lot of people claim she's a philosopher. I'm just bitter and hold a grudge.

Someone should start a politics and religion thread, maybe separate from "Kitchen Sink," where we can talk about Sarah Palin and why she'll never be President.

Barich has lived in Europe for a decade - his travels to re-discover America coincided with the 2008 race.

As for philosophy, A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, an opus I tackled last year, had enough (mixed in with the history and theology) to last me the rest of the decade thankyouverymuch!

MacCulloch's book on the Reformation is bound to become the indispensable source for information on the subject. It's one of the most interesting and sensitive treatments of the subject I've ever read. I looked at "History of Christianity," but I didn't think about reading it, since it seemed to just cover big, overarching themes.

I don't like her philosophy, either, but she is highly influential. The Libertarian movement was inspired by her. I listened to an excerpt of the audio, and it's informative. If you don't want to read her books, I would recommend at least listening to this book. It's supposed to give an unbiased point of view.

The audio is only $4.95 at Audible, less than a paperback.

I finished reading Reading Lolita in Tehran. There's a lot of talk about this book. It provides an interesting look at the impact made on private lives by the fundamentalists.
In addition, this book injects me a wish to reread Lolita, Pride and Prejudice, Henry James and The Great Gatsby with new eyes.
In fact I'm currently reading The Great Gatsby!

Patty wrote: "I finished reading Reading Lolita in Tehran. There's a lot of talk about this book. It provides an interesting look at the impact made on private lives by the fundamentalists.
In a..."

I read that book, Patty, and really felt the same way as you. You don't realize how lucky we are to be able to read whatever it is we want.

Hello from England. I don't know if you can obtain Reunited in the Desert over there. May I post a short extract? Regards, David.

@ Marialyce: I fully agree with you!

David wrote: "Hello from England. I don't know if you can obtain Reunited in the Desert over there. May I post a short extract? Regards, David."

Thanks for asking, David. If you'll go back to Constant Reader's opening page and scroll down the list of discussion subjects, you may promote your book in the Promotions Go Here folder.

Patty wrote: "I finished reading Reading Lolita in Tehran. There's a lot of talk about this book. It provides an interesting look at the impact made on private lives by the fundamentalists.
In a..."

Lolita in Tehran sounds like a fascinating read - thanks for sharing this! Love the Great Gatsby :}.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed Bryson's At Home, but then I have enjoyed almost all of his books.

John, I got The Imperfectionists for my Kindle because it was only $5. I wasn't sure if I would like it because I'm not usually fond of short stories, but it really grew on me. So, I take it you would not recommend the three thousand year history of Christianity? My husband is interested in finding an "impartial" history of the Catholic church. Where does that third thousand year period come in anyway?

I am currently reading One Thousand White Women: the Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus for my in person book club. It is the fictional account of how a group of marginalized white women volunteer to be wives of Cheyenne Indians. I am having a lot of trouble accepting that premise.

Ann

I had trouble with the Christianity book as it contained "philosophy" instead of (much) theology between the Reformation and the French Revolution. The book may perhaps have been "too thorough" for me? He goes back to the ancient Greeks and such to start the discussion of religion in the west for the past 3000 years.

Bryson I found over-the-top in his later writing, but with At Home he gets it "just right" (Goldilocks-style).

Kitty wrote: "I am debating whether to nominate The Storyteller of Marrakesh for the next time. Let me know what others think. I don't know if it is up to CR standards . It is a very charming sto..."

I'd vote for it.

Gabrielle wrote: "Kitty wrote: "I am debating whether to nominate The Storyteller of Marrakesh for the next time. Let me know what others think. I don't know if it is up to CR standards . It is a ve..."

I finished it and it was a charming story in all sense of the word. I was intrigued by it. There are lots of possibilities for a good discussion.

John wrote: "I fear I'd find her proselytizing boring. John - I'm not real keen on political philosophy, nor same as fiction. I wouldn't be keen on reading Marx either."

I read The Fountainhead, and I really didn't like it very much.

I read Swamplandia!, which is very imaginative, but it has it's faults. The story lags in places, and it was hard for me to get close to the characters. To be fair, it really wasn't my kind of book. I like Realist fiction much more. I'll take Tolstoy, Thomas Hardy, and William Trevor any day over those who want to practice literary fireworks.

I'm nearly finished with At Home: A Short History of Private Life, and dread picking it up as I really don't want it to end!

I'm alternating between that and The Imperfectionists on my e-reader; the latter is well-written, but I'm not certain I can say I like it (yet)?

I'm just about finished with Dr Zhivago and having a tough time selecting my next book(s). I have so many good ones. One will probably be Unaccustomed Earth. With that I may add a WWII mystery Evil for Evil. I also want to read The Secret Scripture.

I'm not going to return to The Brothers Karamazov for a while. I need a little time apart from the Russians.

Sue wrote: "I'm just about finished with Dr Zhivago and having a tough time selecting my next book(s). I have so many good ones. One will probably be Unaccustomed Earth. With that I may add a WWII..."

I enjoyed The Secret Scripture, but it called for a heap of suspension of disbelief. I like the characters a lot. I'm rereading parts of Doctor Zhivago I had to read too fast on my first go through.

Gabrielle wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm just about finished with Dr Zhivago and having a tough time selecting my next book(s). I have so many good ones. One will probably be Unaccustomed Earth. With that I ma..."

I think I can manage the suspension of disbelief. I have to say I'm thrilled at the length of the book and all the books I'm currently considering.

Speaking of "Dr. Zhivago" (which I have not read), Travels in Siberia is interesting, but proving very long as the author speaks s-l-o-w-l-y!

John wrote: "Speaking of "Dr. Zhivago" (which I have not read), Travels in Siberia is interesting, but proving very long as the author speaks s-l-o-w-l-y!"

After reading some Russian novels recently (and still to finish
The Brothers Karamazov), I think I'll wait a bit for a slow book.

Thanks for the heads up John.

John, I enjoyed Home: A Short History of Private Life immensely - in fact, I've already reread it once. Bill Bryson is my ultimate bedtime book buddy; when I can't sleep (which is often), I'll pull out one of his books as a peaceful distraction.

Hi everybody I'm trying to get back into reading again but I never have a gud time at the mo, I'm either cleaning de house or working and I did start
The (Im)Perfect Girlfriend but I can't get a chance to read it
:(

Welcome to Constant Reader, Catherine. I hope you can fit some reading into your busy life.

Sue wrote: "I'm just about finished with Dr Zhivago and having a tough time selecting my next book(s). I have so many good ones. One will probably be Unaccustomed Earth. With that I may add a WWII..."

Evil for Evil sounds like an interesting book, Sue. I see that it is part of a series. Have you read the others? If so, how would it compare with the Small Change series, ( or Farthing series)?

I have read the preceding novels in the Billy Boyle series. It's a much more straight forward story than the small change series by Jo Walton. The "catch" here is that the primary character is a young policeman from Boston who gets called up at the beginning of the US involvement in WWII. Rather than fighting on the front lines in a routine role he has a different role dictated by the fact that he is related to Eisenhower. This doesn't keep him out of harms way but it does send him into different European theaters during the war.

It is a lighter series than Walton if any war-based series can be considered light.

Thanks, Sue. It's on THE LIST!

I will start reading Freedom in the next few days.

Kitty, I really liked that book. I hope you do as well.

Sue, I remember having enjoyed Unaccustomed Earthas well as Interpreter of Maladies.

I just finished Volume I of the Mark Twain autobiography. It seems ginormous, but if one skims/avoids the research stuff and sticks to the meat, I found it quite worthwhile. I loved the parts with his daughter Susy's biography of him, and his reflections on the character of man (no other species has the capacity to take such pleasure in the pain of others), and his honesty about his own shortcomings. His speech of instruction to others on how to live to 70 years old is a hoot!

I just started "The Charterhouse of Parma" in the John Sturrock translation. Any comments on preferred translations of this book?

When I read "The Red and the Black" I started with the Scott-Moncrieff version and then switched to the Roger Gard translation and the book suddenly came alive. It seems that Stendahl, the ultimate non-stylist, really requires a good translator.

I'm also dipping into a great collection of Gore Vidal essays, United States. At almost 1300 pages, I'll probably continue dipping for the rest of the year. :)

I've read a few translations, and I prefer Richard Howard's.

I am reading and enjoying Elizabeth Glaskell's Wives and Daughters.

I am going to visit my inner child by reading 8 books from the Jennings series by Anthony Buckeridge
And if I have time I'm gonna read Crime and Punishment.

Brian:

I really enjoyed The Charterhouse of Parma - I am pretty sure I read the Richard Howard translation. I had no issues with the translation - the book had me hooked from the get-go.

I'm now reading Until I Find You by John Irving. On page 369 of an 820 page novel. Irving is really frustrating me on this one. Has anyone in the group read it? I can't decide whether to bail, or stick with it?

I can't imagine bailing on a novel halfway through, especially when it was that long. I'd stick with it just in order to be able to put it in my "read" pile.

Barbara wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm just about finished with Dr Zhivago and having a tough time selecting my next book(s). I have so many good ones. One will probably be Unaccustomed Earth. With that I ma..."

Barbara, I got a good start on
Evil for Evil last night and am really enjoying it. So far it may be my favorite of the series. The Irish setting and all its war time complications are definite contributions.

Lyn wrote: "Sue, I remember having enjoyed Unaccustomed Earthas well as Interpreter of Maladies.

I just finished Volume I of the Mark Twain autobiography. It seems ginormous,..."

Thanks Lyn. I've heard a lot of good comments about Lahiri's writing. I'm also glad to hear some details about the Twain book. I have wondered if it was worth buying or rather a book to get from the library.

I hope so too sherry, ok I have to start getting back into a good reading routine :)

Recently finished The Ghosts of Belfast and Neverwhere. Ghosts of Belfast is not, let me add, a ghost story. :) Think ex-IRA assassin with a very guilty conscience. There is much more to it, and really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Starting American Gods next, thanks to this thread.

Finally almost finished with Kraken and I'm just getting started on Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen

Gina wrote: "I'm now reading Until I Find You by John Irving. On page 369 of an 820 page novel. Irving is really frustrating me on this one. Has anyone in the group read it? I can't decide whether to bail, ..."

I have it but haven't tried reading it as yet -- given the state of my current reading progress, I'm not likely to tackle it now either unfortunately. Not much help -- but I do know that while Irving often irritates me, if I persevere, I'm glad I did.

Finished The Blade Itself. I would highly recommend it for Fantasy fans who like a lot of action. It's a fun book, although I'm realizing that I can't take a purely good tale that doesn't bend my cracked mind, especially if it's 500-1000 pages. So...I'm laying off Fantasy for a little bit.

Also finished within 24 hours, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Now, this is my kind of book! Recommended by my friend Sparkle, who is trying to get me to read Spinoza again. My review for Perfume is at:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm starting Fear of Knowledge: Against Relativism and Constructivism, a monthly read at the Philosophy forum, next. It's not Spinoza, but I think I'll learn something.